Bedstead.



PATENTED AUG. 9, 1904.

R. H. WHEELER. 7

1 .6 2 N DA A EH T S D E Bm T A 0 I L P P A N0 MODEL.

UNITED. STATES Patented August 9, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 766,858, dated August 9, 1904.

Application filed January 28,1904. Serial No. 190,976- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT HOMER W'HEE- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Highpoint, in the county of (irllilfOI'd and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bedsteads, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in metal bedsteads, and has special reference to an improved lock by which the rails are secured to the posts thereof.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a construction of lock for metal bedsteads by which construction the weight placed upon the bed will continually force the ends of the rails so as to increase the locking pressure between the ends of the rails and posts, and thereby properly supporting the rails.

To attain these objects, the invention con sists of a lock for the rails embodying novel features of construction and combination of parts, substantially as disclosed herein.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the end post and rail equipped with my improved locking device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the locking end of the rail disengaged from post. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the casting carried by the post. Fig. A is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of. the locking member of the rail, and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section therethrough.

Referring to the drawings, A designates one of the posts of the bed, which has cast upon or secured thereto a band B, which is provided with the broadened rear portion C and the tapered portion I), which tapers from the top and bottom of the band toward the center and has formed therethrough a sub stantially U-shaped channel or opening E, the purpose of which will presently appear.

Cast upon the end of one of the side rails F of the bed is a casting Gr, which consists of the upper arm H, provided in its end with the curved recess J. This arm'has formed integral therewith and projecting downwardly therefrom a curved prong or lug K, which is adapted to fit in the U-shaped opening of the band, so as to provide a space L between its outer face and the post A of the bed when the curved recess of the arm is contacting the post A. In order to brace these locking members, I form integral with the body of the casting the downwardly-extending curved brace M, provided with the reinforcing-ribs N upon its sides and with a curved recess 0 upon its extreme end in line with the curved recess of the arm, the curved recess of the brace being adapted to contact the post A at A, and thereby brace the lower end of the locking parts. By this construction a curved channel P is provided between the rear of the curved projection and the curved brace of the casting, so that any weight placed upon the rail will cause the curved recesses of the arm and brace to be forced more closely in contact with the post A of the bed, thus wedging the downwardly-projecting lug of the casting into the opening of the band, so that the members when wedged together support the rails of the bed and form a lock, so as not to be readily removed except by jarring from below.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it is evident that I provide a simple and durable construction of bed-lock and one which is thoroughly efficient and practical in use.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by making the ends of the rail come in contact with the bedpost a new and valuable feature is produced. I also claim to overcome the greatest objection there has been to metal bed-locks that is, the great difliculty of making a cast-iron lock that would hold the ends of the bed up straight and at the same time be perfectly solid and not work loose. By this construction the article is cheapened, as it requires not half the labor to keep in order, and, further, it can be and is intended to be made in chills, making the cost of manufacture considerably less than sand-castings and a great deal less than malleable castings.

hat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein-described locking device for corner-post and rails of bedsteads, consisting of a band cast to surround the corner-post provided with a broadened rear portion and a tapered forward portion, the said band being lug K enters the opening of the bandand is provided with an eye between the post and forced downward the recesses of the' arm H tapered forward portion thereof; and a castand brace M will be forced into close :eontact ing G formed upon the end of said side rail -with the post above and below the band. I 5

5 and consisting of an upper arm H provided In testimony whereofI afiix my signature in lin its end wilth a curlved recess J, a 'cu'ved presence of two witnesses.

ug K formec integra and projecting ownv e t Wardly therefrom adapted to enter the open- ROBERT HOME R WHEEL ing of the band, and an integral curved brace Witnesses:

IO M provided with a curved recess to aline with 1 J. E. BRANSON,

the recess in the arm H; whereby when the T. M. HALL. 

